Henry Hyde dies
Thursday, Nov 29, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Breaking news from the Tribune this morning…
Henry J. Hyde — known for his courtly manners, oratorical skills and historical knowledge during 32 years as the conservative voice of the western suburbs in Congress — died today, according to the office of House Republican Leader John Boehner. He was 83.
While often seen as a throwback to a more genteel era in Washington, Mr. Hyde was a key figure in one of the capital’s most divisive episodes, leading the House Republicans in their successful impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
- anon - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 9:07 am:
I may not have always agreed with him, but as a former constituent, I always respected him.
God Bless and may he rest in peace.
- Christine Cegelis - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 9:41 am:
I came to have a lot of respect for the Congressman during my congressional run against him. He often was able to take unpopular stands because of his strong beliefs.
My thoughts and prayers are with his family this day.
- Trafficmatt - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 9:52 am:
Sad day for Illinois. Cong. Hyde was truly a noble lion amongst men and a true servant of the poeple he represented.
Rest in Peace.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 10:20 am:
loki1967, you’re banned for life.
- GOPYooper - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 10:54 am:
God Bless Henry Hyde, a true patriot.
- It's 5 O'clock somewhere - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 10:54 am:
I think of him as a true Statesman. God Bless.
- Greg - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:02 am:
I remember the two or three times I’ve had the opportunity to visit with Rep. Hyde in my twenties. His optimism and good spirits were and still are contagious. If there is a heaven, it just became better for having him.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:43 am:
His story had a great ending. He is one of the great Illinoians. Our state has been blessed with so many great leaders, Mr. Hyde was definately one of them.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:51 am:
I’ve never agreed politically with Rep. Hyde, but in the few times I met him I found him to be a gracious person. RIP Rep Hyde and may your family find solace at your loss.
- train111 - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:51 am:
In all the elections I’ve participated in, I can think of only 1 incumbent congressman that I ever voted for. That was Henry Hyde. I was moved by his change of heart and embrace of the Brady Bill. Not that I personally agree with everything in it, he certainly showed that he could learn and develop convictions during the course of his career and have the politcal courage to express them.
train111
- Crimefighter - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 2:10 pm:
The Gov. has sent notice flags are to be flown at half-staff immeadiately.
- True Observer - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 2:54 pm:
Hillary is probably polling to see if she should attend.
- DuPage Dave - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 5:54 pm:
Hyde was my congressman for many years. He disgraced himself and the House with the persecution of Bill Clinton, particularly in the face of his own admitted infidelities. He was a dogmatic Republican in the worst sense of the word, although he had much better manners than many of the same ilk today. His single-minded devotion to the anti-abortion cause meant that he didn’t pay much attention to his district in his last 10 years. He was nothing special and will not be missed by many outside his own family and the hard-core Republican right.
- Establishment Republican - Thursday, Nov 29, 07 @ 11:35 pm:
Rest in Peace, for a great American and a passionate public servant.
- Bookworm - Friday, Nov 30, 07 @ 6:02 am:
I think this quote of his really sums it up:
“When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I’ve often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God and a terror will rip through your soul like nothing you can imagine.
But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, “Spare him because he loved us,” and God will look at you and say not, “Did you succeed?” but “Did you try?”
While he directed this primarily at pro-lifers, I think it could also apply to anyone who tries to advocate for those who don’t have a voice in this world: the poor, the elderly, the handicapped, abused children, the wrongfully convicted, the homeless, etc.
I know a lot of people on this blog (myself included) get awfully discouraged at times about the way the “little people” get treated in our state. Perhaps it might help to remember that those who have clout in this world won’t necessarily have it in the next. And the thing people will remember most about us when we’re gone is not whether we succeeded, or whether we were perfect, but how hard we tried.